Rap: Caleb Williams (hamstring) likely sits Week 3

The Bears’ QB1 Caleb Williams (hamstring) and QB2 Bagent are both sidelined, leaving QB3 Case Keenum to take first-team reps. If Bagent can clear the NFL’s concussion protocol soon, he has a chance to start in Week 3 against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, but Keenum looks like the most likely starter.

Williams is unable to practice today, as expected. Bears QB3 Case Keenum took first-team reps yesterday, with Williams’ primary backup, QB Tyson Bagent, having been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Bagent did not practice today either. The Bears face the Eagles on Monday night. Keenum is currently the most likely player to get the start this week.

Tyson Bagent has not been cleared to practice while he works his way through the league’s concussion protocol. Caleb Williams (hamstring) is unlikely to practice this week, let alone play. That leaves just Keenum at quarterback on the active roster. The Bears have an extra day to get healthy because they play on Monday night, but all signs point to Keenum drawing the start. It will be hard to get any Chicago pass-catcher in fantasy lineups with Keenum under center.

In Week 1, the Bears scored 59 points. In Week 3, they will potentially be starting Case Keenum against the Eagles. Life comes at you fast. Bagent will have an extra day to clear protocol because the Bears play on Monday night, but we’ve seen teams be very cautious with concussions over the past few years and it should probably be regarded as more likely than not that Bagent misses Week 3.

While he doesn’t expect Williams to practice this week, Johnson did not rule out the possibility of him playing next Monday night against the Eagles. Williams received positive news on the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 2’s loss to the Vikings, but the Bears’ QB1 is still at risk of missing at least one game after Johnson called him “week-to-week” earlier on Monday. It wouldn’t be surprising if Johnson delayed naming a starting QB as long as he can to give himself a “competitive advantage” heading into Week 3. Fantasy managers rostering Williams will want a contingency plan in place heading into the week and should consider sitting Williams if Johnson doesn’t commit to starting him before Sunday’s games kick off.

It was reported earlier that Williams appears to have avoided serious injury after undergoing an MRI on Monday. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero also said that he could have a chance to play in Week 3’s game against the Eagles, but it’s worth noting that Johnson also said Williams “will likely miss some time.” This is already setting up to be an annoying injury for fantasy managers to navigate, with the Bears set to play on Monday night. We’ll see where things stand when the team releases its first injury report of the week on Thursday, but if he can’t play, Tyson Bagent would get the nod against a stout Eagles defense.

This is as good of news as Bears fans could have hoped for after their QB1 was carted from the field with a towel over his head less than 24 hours ago. It was reported after the game that Williams was in good spirits and walking around the locker room after the team’s Week 2 loss to the Bears, and the early belief was that he had avoided any severe injury. It’s safe to say that this certainly sounds like a minor ordeal at worst, based on the latest report, after the initial fear was that Williams could be looking at an extended absence. With an extra day of rest before Week 3’s Monday night game against the Eagles, Williams could have a legitimate chance to suit up without missing a game. His name will be one to monitor on the injury report, but fantasy managers could be forced into deciding whether or not to risk playing him if he ends up receiving a questionable designation tag come Saturday. If Williams is unable to play, Tyson Bagent would draw the start.

According to Florio, it “could be as slight as a Grade 1" strain. Williams will undergo further testing tomorrow to determine the severity, at which point we should get an update about an expected return timeline. Williams is reportedly in good spirits and is ready to attack his rehab program. Williams injured his right hamstring today, and Florio notes that Williams injured his left hamstring in college. The Bears host the Eagles in Week 3’s Monday Night Football game. Backup QB Tyson Bagent would start in Williams’ stead if Williams is unable to play, though the extra day of rest could pay off.

Williams exited the Bears’ 13-9, Week 2 loss to the Vikings after suffering a hamstring injury that initially had him rolling on the ground, shouting in pain. Shortly after the game, multiple Chicago beat reporters took to social media to tell fans Williams was able to walk around the locker room without crutches, though at least two reporters noted that he appears to have a slight limp. Overall, this is an encouraging first update. Williams will undergo thorough testing in the coming hours and days to determine the injury’s severity and his potential return timeline. Stay tuned.

Bagent checked in with 7:15 remaining after Caleb Williams suffered a non-contact injury dashing for the end zone. Bagent did his best to rally the troops in windy, rainy weather, but his lack of arm strength relative to Williams was immediately apparent. Where it at first appeared Williams was dealing with a season-ending knee or Achilles’ tendon injury, he has since been diagnosed with a hamstring issue. That means that even though Williams is probably on the wrong side of questionable for Week 3 against the Eagles, Bagent may only end up making a start or two. He will be a last-gasp superflex option if forced into duty next Monday.